Weapons surrendered to DIAG in Nangarhar

Jalalabad, October 1, 2007 (Pajhwok Afghan News): As many as 1273 pieces of light and heavy weapons, seized by Nangarhar police in different operations, were surrendered to the Disarmament of Irresponsible Armed Groups (DIAG) programme here on Monday.

The arms turned over to DIAG included Klashnikov assault rifles, heavy guns and rocket-launchers, provincial police spokesman Col. Abdul Ghafoor informed Pajhwok Afghan News. The weapons were seized by police over the last few months.

So far, Ghafoor reckoned, the provincial police had handed 2909 pieces of weapons, 8818 boxes of ammunition and 130,000 bullets over to DIAG.

The spokesman explained of the arms surrendered today, 300 pieces were recovered by the border police and the rest by the national police. Cases have been filed against four people arrested with arms.

Dr Abdul Hameed, DIAG spokesman for the eastern zone, confirmed the arms surrender. He said 3289 weapons, 10,000 boxes of ammunition and 138,000 bullets had been collected in the eastern provinces since the launch of the DIAG initiative.

The programme is currently underway in Momand Dara and Ghanikhel districts of Nangarhar and will soon be extended to Batikot, Khewa, Kama and Behsud.